EAHP represents over 30,000 hospital pharmacists across 37 member countries. EAHP represents and develops the hospital pharmacy profession within Europe in order to ensure the continuous improvement of care and outcomes for patients in the hospital setting. This is achieved through science, research, education, practice, as well as sharing best-practice and responsibility with other healthcare professional
The EAHP Board, elected for three-year terms, oversees the association’s activities. Comprising directors responsible for core functions, it meets regularly to implement strategic goals. Supported by EAHP staff, the Board controls finances, coordinates congress organization, and ensures compliance with statutes and codes of conduct.
The EAHP staff supports the Board in executing EAHP’s mission. The Staff assists in financial management, events organisations, policy activities and all EAHP projects. The EAHP staff works closely with EAHP’s members and ensures the effective communication all relevant stakeholders.
The first member countries were Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands in 1972. EAHP has now 36 EAHP members and 2 Associate Members. EAHP is open to countries members of the Council of Europe and since 2022 to organisations representing the interests of hospital pharmacists from outside the Council of Europe (Associate Membership)
EAHP’s structure is also composed by different standing committes: EAHP Scientific Committee, EAHP Education Executive Committee and the EAHP CTF Steering Committee.
At EAHP, we are committed to transparency in our governance, ethical standards, and funding practices. This section provides open access to our foundational documents, including the EAHP Statutes, Code of Conduct, and Funding Sources. By sharing these resources, we aim to uphold accountability and foster trust with our members, partners, and the public.
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Hospital pharmacists conduct a critical role in the care of patients in hospitals. Learn more about what they do here and in all the pages under Hospital Pharmacy practice and Policy.
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EAHP brings together experts from many areas of hospital pharmacy practice providing and highlighting good local sustainable practices as that can be up-scaled and shared with other countries. The EAHP Working Group on Sustainability has the aim of reducing the environmental burden of the hospital pharmacy services.
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP), and its 36 member country platforms are creating a Common Training Framework for the hospital pharmacy education in Europe. The goal of this project is to allow the free movement of hospital pharmacists within the European Union.
The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) have collaboratively developed the Oath to Society. The Oath to Society is all encompassing and acts as a contract for excellence in providing compassionate patient care, working as part of the healthcare team and advancing the pharmacy profession, and showcasing how clinical and hospital pharmacists work every day
A day created to highlight the importance and to celebrate the work done by hospital pharmacies. This day celebrates all hospital pharmacy teams.
The Early Career Network aims to empower early-career pharmacists by sharing opportunities, insights, and success stories from across 25 member countries.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected hospital pharmacy community: one story, one country, one pharmacist at a time.
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The European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (EJHP) is the only official journal of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and is committed to advancing the science, practice and profession of hospital pharmacy. As the premier communication platform for hospital pharmacists worldwide, EJHP is a major source for continuing education as well as updates on advances in the practice and standard of pharmaceutical care for patients.
When EAHP and Hospital pharmacists appear in the news.
EAHP publishes a monthly EU monitor with updates about the latest EAHP initiatives and information relevant for the hospital pharmacy profession.
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Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
IOANNIDIS KONSTANTINOS
SCARLATINIS IOANNIS
KORRE OURANIA
BOTSIOU MARIA
NIKOLAOU KATERINA-ANGELIKI
The integration of clinical pharmacists in oncology settings plays a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective administration of chemotherapeutic agents. At Hygeia Hospital, over the past five years, clinical pharmacists have identified and prevented 1,272 chemotherapy-related medication errors, corresponding to 2.4 errors per 100 chemotherapy days. Despite this substantial contribution, challenges persist in the administration process by nursing staff, particularly regarding infusion parameters. Common errors include incorrect infusion rates and the omission or improper use of required filters and light sensitive infusion sets, and their prevention remains a persistent challenge.
To mitigate these risks, Hygeia Hospital has implemented parameterised electronic infusion pumps as an additional safety mechanism.
These pumps are pre-programmed by clinical pharmacists with non-modifiable infusion time limits for each chemotherapeutic agent, preventing unauthorised alterations by nursing personnel. Furthermore, the pumps provide mandatory prompts regarding the use of filters or/and light sensitive infusion sets, as specified in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of each drug.
Since their introduction 1 year ago, these infusion pumps have facilitated the identification and correction of previously undetectable administration errors, with an observed rate of 0.15 errors per 100 chemotherapy days. Most of these involved incorrect selection of infusion duration by nursing staff. These findings underscore the value of pump parameterisation in uncovering latent errors and reinforcing adherence to safe administration practices.
Future steps include expanding the use of parametrised infusion pumps beyond oncology to other high-risk areas, such as intensive care units, where precise and safe administration is equally critical. By reducing reliance on manual intervention and standardising administration protocols, this approach enhances the overall safety and efficacy of drug delivery across multiple clinical settings.
Production and Compounding
Scarlett Wise, Pharmacy
Sandrine Gotty, Infectious risk prevention
Sylvain Auvity, Pharmacy
Robert Ratiney, Pharmacy
Caroline Chirk, Pharmacy
Aude Boyer, Clinical investigation center
Inhalation GTMP’s nature are various, such as mRNA vectorized in lipid nanoparticles and virus GMO therapies. Hospital staff needs reassurance and protective equipment (PE) facing the management of these new ATMPs.
Before administrating a new advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP), including gene therapy medicinal product (GTMP), precaution measures must be implemented for the safety of health care personal at every step of the pharmaceutical process. Administration of GTMP by inhalation generates volatile active substance particles in the air during and after inhalation.
As a result, protection measures were established to secure hospital personal during administration and all through patient hospitalisation.
The dedicated ATMP pharmacist and healthcare manager, identified each key parameter: GTMP nature, persistence on surfaces and types of contamination: airborne, droplet or contact.
The exposition phases in patient’s room were cut down to 3 periods:
1) Administration and instant post administration
2) Hospitalisation post administration
3) Patient discharge
For each period, precautionary measures for entering and exciting patients’ room were discussed:
a. PE
b. Safety distance between personal and patient
c. Bio-cleaning
d. Waste management
Isolation signs for each ATMP were created, approved by the hygiene department and displayed at the entrance of every patient’s room. These signs summarized the good behaviour for every period and detailed the necessary PE.
Two isolation signs were created: mRNA and virus-vectorized GTMP.
For 1st period:
Entering: FFP2 mask (airborne), gown, covering glasses, mobcap, gloves and 1.5m distance during administration were identified for both GTMPs. Virus-vectorized GTMP required additional doubled gloves, overshoes and disposable pants.
Room exit: all objects needed decontamination when brought out of patient’s room (contact) for virus-vectorized GTMP.
For 2nd period:
Entering: surgical mask, gown and gloves were identified for both GTMPs. Virus-vectorized GTMP required a surgical mask for the patient (droplets).
For 3rd phase: floor and wall bio-cleaning were necessary and furniture for virus-vectorized GTMP. PE was thrown away in usual waste for mRNA. For virus-vectorized GTMP, PE follows biohazard waste and laundry is identified.
Room exit in all periods required hand washing with hydroalcoholic solution.
Isolation signs will be created to accompany each new ATMP handling and administration.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
L. Čermanová, V. Slezáková, J. Babiaková, D. Fábiánová, S. Porubcová
Phlebitis is one of the most common complications of infusion therapy. Intravenous drugs with extreme pH values (9) may chemically irritate or damage the venous endothelium, triggering an inflammatory response. Understanding the pH of intravenous anti-infectives is essential for clinical decision-making to prevent infusion-related complications.
The aim of this work was to determine the pH values of selected intravenous anti-infectives administered at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Bratislava (NÚSCH, a. s.) due to their potential to cause endothelial damage.
A literature review was performed to collect available data on the pH of reconstituted and diluted anti-infectives used at NÚSCH, a. s. Sources included Summaries of Product Characteristics, ASHP Injectable Drug Information®, pharmaceutical recommendations of Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, and relevant scientific publications.
The criteria used to select anti-infectives for pH analysis were a complete lack or insufficient information on the drug’s pH, reported pH values approaching the extreme thresholds of 5 or 9, and excessively wide pH ranges exceeding these limits.
Subsequently, the pH of 21 selected drugs was measured at 37 commonly administered concentrations (including ready-to-use formulations) using a glass-electrode pH meter (XS pH 7 Vio portable pH meter; electrode CHS ChemFlex). The diluents used were 0.9% sodium chloride solution, 5% glucose solution, and water for injection.
A table summarising selected anti-infectives at commonly administered concentrations, along with their mean pH values (± standard deviation) was compiled. Dilution volumes used in clinical settings with either 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose solution for extremely acidic or alkaline medications did not appear to significantly modify pH in a way that would affect vascular access choice.
The pH values enable the identification of anti-infectives with a higher potential risk of phlebitis and support the selection of the most appropriate vascular access device.
The results will be applied in developing institutional recommendations for the dilution and administration of anti-infectives, supporting safer infusion practices and the prevention of chemically induced phlebitis across NÚSCH, a. s. wards. They will also inform staff training and may contribute to the reduction of medication errors.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Anais Carrillo Burdallo
Cristina Villanueva Bueno
Maria del Pilar Montero Antón
Isabel Regalado-Artamendi
Beatriz Torroba Sanz
Jose Luis Revuelta Herrero
Eva González-Haba Peña
Daniel Gomez Costas
Yeray Rioja Díez
Antonio Prieto Romero
María Martín Bartolomé
Xandra García Gonzalez
Ana Herranz Alonso
Maria Sanjurjo Saez
High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) carries substantial toxicity risk. Safety hinges on timely, appropriately dosed leucovorin rescue plus high-volume hydration and urinary alkalinisation. Pharmacokinetic monitoring with proactive follow-up enables early detection of delayed clearance and better-informed decisions.
A protocol for the administration and pharmacokinetic monitoring of HD-MTX was developed and implemented in a tertiary hospital in coordination with the Haematology Department.
Standardised procedures for administration were defined (hydration/alkalinisation strategies; rescue timing/dose; infusion start; sampling schedule). Adults with leukaemia/lymphoma received short (5µmol/L; long: 42h, >1µmol/L).
Pharmacist-led interventions were classified as: enhanced elimination (intravenous fluids/furosemide; bicarbonate/acetazolamide; cholestyramine), rescue optimisation (dose guided by the prediction, readjusted after the measured level, and withheld when appropriate), and monitoring (additional levels and duration).
Continuous accuracy was assessed with the individual percentage error (IPE)=[(predicted−observed)/observed]×100; we report MDIPE (median IPE; accuracy), MAIPE (median absolute IPE; precision), and the proportion within 1.5-fold. Classification against thresholds was summarised with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).
In 24 administrations (13 short, 11 long), pharmacist-led interventions were implemented in every cycle: enhanced elimination 88%, rescue optimisation 54%, monitoring 71%.
Continuous accuracy: MDIPE +35% (IQR 9–80), MAIPE 38% (IQR 11–80); 54% within 1.5-fold. Threshold performance (short/long): accuracy 69/91%; sensitivity 100/100%; specificity 67/86%; PPV 20/80%; NPV 100/100%.
Protocolised monitoring improved safety by standardising decisions and reducing errors. The predictive tool achieved 100% sensitivity and NPV, supporting early rule-out of delayed clearance; positive alerts should be interpreted cautiously given moderate overprediction and false positives near thresholds, with confirmation and close follow-up.
Next steps are full rollout, recalibration and threshold tuning in larger cohorts, and extension to Oncology and Paediatrics, tracking efficiency endpoints (time to <0.05-0.2 µmol/L, length of stay).
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Cristina Garcia Fernandez, Estela Alamino Arrebola, Bárbara Lopez Bautís, Carmen Gallego Fernandez, Begoña Tortajada Goitia.
Patient safety in clinical trials relies on the correct management of both investigational and auxiliary/comparator medications. While investigational products are usually managed through automated systems (e.g., IWRS) ensuring traceability and standardization, auxiliary medications often lack similar oversight from sponsors. A preventable medication error in an oncology clinical trial—caused by the preparation of an incorrect drug concentration due to the absence of automated supply and harmonization—highlighted the need to analyze system gaps and implement corrective actions to strengthen patient safety and medication traceability.
A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) was conducted following the detection of a medication error involving the preparation of hospital stock (20 mg/mL) instead of the clinical trial formulation (10 mg/mL). The objective was to identify systemic weaknesses and design a Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) plan aimed at preventing recurrence and improving management of auxiliary medication in clinical trials.
The RCA was performed in July 2025 using the “5 Whys” methodology, supported by:
-Document review, staff interviews, and chronological reconstruction of the event.
-Analysis of human, technical, communicative, and organizational factors.
-Classification of the incident (NCC MERP category D — no patient harm).
Corrective measures implemented included:
– Creation of a pre-trial pharmacy checklist to ensure drug availability and concentration verification.
– Mandatory pharmaceutical validation after any protocol amendment.
– Formal requests to sponsors to standardize drug concentrations across sites.
– Improved communication channels between sponsors, pharmacy, and clinical teams
-Identification of the main root cause: lack of automation in auxiliary drug supply requiring manual requests.
-Prevention of similar future events through harmonized pharmacy processes.
-Reinforcement of patient safety culture and traceability of clinical trial medications.
-Strengthened collaboration among hospital pharmacy, clinical teams, and sponsors.
-No patient harm resulted from the event, confirming the importance of early detection and system review.
-Extend IWRS automation and standardization practices to include auxiliary medications in all clinical trials.
-Share the initiative with other hospital pharmacies and sponsors to promote harmonization at institutional and multicenter levels.
-Continue monitoring the implemented CAPA and evaluate its impact on error prevention.
-Foster continuous improvement in pharmacy oversight and communication workflows for clinical research.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
A. VARAS PEREZ1, MJ. LOPEZ MUÑOZ1, C. RODRIGUEZ MORETA1.
1HOSPITAL SERRANIA DE RONDA, FARMACIA, RONDA, SPAIN.
Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy represents a major advancement in HIV management. This method of administration is novel, and as such, a process must be defined that involves different healthcare professionals and that must provide the patient with the training related to the administration in the best way. The intramuscular combination of cabotegravir and rilpivirine (CAB/RPV IM) offers an alternative to daily oral regimens, potentially improving adherence and patient quality of life. To ensure safe and efficient implementation, a multidisciplinary protocol was developed in a primary hospital.
A coordinated protocol was established for the prescription, validation, dispensing, and administration of CAB/RPV IM, involving hospital pharmacy, nursing, and medical teams. Outcomes were assessed after one year of implementation.
A retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, analyzing CAB/RPV IM administrations recorded since March 2024. Inclusion criteria included virologic suppression, stable oral regimen, absence of resistance mutations to CAB/RPV, no hepatitis B coinfection, and patient commitment to scheduled visits. Electronic prescribing via Farmatools® triggered appointments with pharmacy and nursing. Pharmacists provided individualized care and scheduled doses within the ±7-day window, aligned with nursing availability. Patients received automated email reminders; missed appointments prompted follow-up calls. Delays beyond seven days were reported to the physician. Data on administration dates, discontinuations and reasons, viral load, and dosing intervals were extracted from the External Patient Module PRISMA and electronic health records.
A total of 518 doses were administered to 138 patients. Nine patients (6.5%) discontinued treatment due to adverse effects, personal/work conflicts, pregnancy, anticoagulation, or lack of appropriate needles. No virologic failures occurred. All doses were administered within the ±7-day window (mean deviation: -1.9 ± 2.0 days). The average number of doses per patient was 3.6 (range: 1–7). Nursing intervened in 4.5% of follow-up visits due to missed appointments. Email reminders reached 81.9% of patients. The protocol enabled integrated care, improved adherence, and ensured safe delivery of CAB/RPV IM therapy.
Expansion of the protocol to new candidates is planned, along with enhanced interprofessional coordination and digital tools for active follow-up. This experience may serve as a model for other centers implementing CAB/RPV IM in HIV care.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
MARTÍNEZ LLIBERATO, A; COMPANY ALBIR, MJ; VICENTE ESCRIG, E; VALLEJO GARCÍA, R; RUBIO ORTOLÁ, L; GARCÍA MONTAÑÉS, S; BELLÉS MEDALL, MD; FERRANDO PIQUERES, R
It was carried out to ensure the best monitoring, traceability and conservation of long-acting antiretroviral drugs, as well as to improve adherence and patient quality of life and reduce stigma in HIV patients.
A program was developed for the administration and pharmacotherapeutic monitoring of patients who are candidates for long-acting antiretroviral treatment (LA-ART), coordinated with the infectious diseases unit (IDU) and the Hospital Pharmacy Outpatient Unit (HPOU).
After the inclusion of the drugs in the pharmacotherapeutic guide, the following program was designed:
1. Identification and communication to the HPOU by the IDU of patients who are candidates for LA-ART and electronic prescription.
2. Initial visit (week 0):
• Review and validation of the treatment by the pharmacist: indication, dosage regimen, interactions, contraindications.
• Planning of the annual administration calendar, providing two dates within the window period allowed by these drugs. Patients are scheduled for pharmaceutical care (PC) and administration on working Thursdays, in the HPOU Health Education Consultation agenda, which has a nurse.
• Information to the patient by the pharmacist, orally and in writing, about administration and adverse reactions. In addition, the annual appointment schedule is provided.
• Appointment of the patient for the first successive visit, if the patient accepts the start.
3. SMS sent the day before, to remind the patient of the follow-up visit. If the patient cannot attend the scheduled appointment, he/she will contact the HPOU to schedule an alternative date according to the calendar.
4. Successive visits (week 4 and every 8 weeks):
• PC
• Intramuscular administration by a nurse.
In all visits, the information is recorded in the patient’s computerized medical history.
Of 18 candidate patients in 18 months, 15 accepted ART after the initial visit. 89 PC and administration consultations have been carried out. Adherence was 100%, all reported local discomfort at the injection site between 1 and 7 days after administration and only 1 patient reported pyrexia.
A program applicable to all HPOU that have nursing and a Health Education consultation to implement adherence in these patients.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Arnela Boskovic
Gitte Stampe Hansen
To ensure rational use of medicines during the acute phase of illness, an interdisciplinary group consisting of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and the Hospital Pharmacy was initiated to determine if some medicines could be paused during shorter hospital admissions at The Medical Acute Care Unit, Bispebjerg Hospital.
Patients in acute phase of illness may experience fatigue, nausea, swallowing difficulties, and cognitive challenges when faced with large amounts of oral medicine. Therefore, prioritizing life-critical medicines during hospitalization is essential, while non-critical medicines could temporarily be paused. Additionally, there is often medicine waste, where drugs are assumed to be administered but remain untouched on the bedside table. In acute care units with complex patients, optimizing nursing time, shelf space in the medicine room and managing costs is crucial for appropriate medication.
Information about the new practice was given via newsletters, oral presentations, and signs at the doctor offices and in the medicine room. The group identified statins, multivitamins and calcium supplements as non-critical, and these were hereafter removed from the shelves in the medicine room. The interdisciplinary division of roles were as follows; Physicians: Prescribe critical medicine and temporarily pause non-critical medicine; Nurses: Do not administer statins, multivitamins, or calcium supplements. If the prescription has not been paused, request the physician to do so; Pharmacists: Assist in pausing non-critical medicines; Hospital Pharmacy: Ensure availability of the correct medicine in the medicine room.
Temporarily pausing statins, multivitamins, and calcium supplements during short hospitalization led to minimizing medicine waste and freed up time for the nurses to do other nurse-specific tasks. Medicine administrations by nurses were reduced by 87-96%. It also resulted in optimized space in the medicine room, making space for more critical medicine such as medicines to treat epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
Expanding the list of non-critical medicine during short hospitalizations is in the pipeline. This will be done by interdisciplinary collaboration and will free up time for the nurses and doctors to focus on the acute care of the patient.
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Christina Anastasiadou – Lead Pharmacist Acute & Emergency Medicine
Karen Dicks – Chief Pharmacy Technician Medicines Management
Radhika Patel – Pharmacy Technician MMS
Until October 2023, the A&E department in Croydon University Hospital in London lacked a full-time pharmacy service, unlike other London trusts. This has contributed to suboptimal medicine management and a delay in the identification of prescribing errors. This has resulted in longer stays, missed medication doses, and a rise in patient safety incidences. At a hospital level this reduces flow and increases cost due to medication wastage. Ultimately, the aim is to improve the flow of patients within the hospital via timely medicines provision, early clinical pharmacy intervention and early discharge planning.
We have obtained funding from the Better Care Fund for a period of 2 years. This funding is aimed at assisting local systems in effectively achieving the integration of health and social care in a manner that promotes person-centred care, sustainability, and improved outcomes for individuals and caregivers. Therefore, we introduced a full-time pharmacy service including one pharmacist and two medicines management technicians (MMTs)—one full-time and one part-time. This initiative was implemented as a 2-year trial period, using key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate its effectiveness.
Data has been collected against the below KPIS:
1) Number of drug histories completed on admission, before patient is allocated a ward (by MMT or pharmacist) per calendar month.
2) Number of medicines reconciliations completed (by pharmacist) per calendar month.
3) Number of clinical interventions completed by all members of the pharmacy team.
4) Savings secondary to the use of patient’s own drugs (PODs) brought from home for administration to reduce medicines wastage.
5) Savings due to the return of medicines to inpatient pharmacy for re-use from other patients when appropriate.
6) Time between request of medicines from pharmacy dispensary and medicine being dispensed, checked and released to A&E.
7) Review of stock lists in all areas in A&E.
8) Reduction in omitted doses.
9) Discharge medicines supply and screening from A&E to streamline discharge.
10) Number of patients counselled on their medicines and provided with patient-friendly information on them.
11) Number of referrals to community teams i.e allocated chemist via Discharge Medicines Service, Integrated Care Network (ICN) pharmacists or specialty teams (i.e anticoagulation clinic for newly initiated anticoagulant) to provide continuation of care.
12) Liaising with specialty teams within the hospital to expedite review and treatment in a time efficient and cost-effective way.
The current pharmacy team is fully integrated into the A&E service and has contributed significantly towards advancing patient experience, via early pharmacy engagement with patients. During the first 10 months of the project, we have data to show:
1) A 540% increase in drug histories and medicines reconciliation on admission.
2) A 19.525% increase in clinical interventions and early detection of medication errors.
3) We have completed 5 teaching sessions so far, in order to tackle common prescribing and medicines management inaccuracies and embedding solutions into nurses and doctors training.
4) We have contributed towards the reduction in omitted doses by 6%.
Positive contribution towards tackling medicines wastage has been shown too. Our team contributed towards saving £13.110 from April to September 2024 by using PODs for administration in hospital and £10.483 by returning dispensed medications to the inpatient pharmacy for recycling and use for other patients for the same time period.
In addition, the team has completed 66 referrals to the community pharmacy team for follow up on newly started medicines, stopped medicines, adherence concerns and polypharmacy. This is in order to provide continuous care and establish follow-up after discharge from hospital.
All in all, improved safe patients flow in and out of hospital.
Work towards a business case for a permanent pharmacy service in A&E, to continue further developing the above. Utilise all the skills our MMTs hold, in order to continue working on patient safety, improved flow and cost improvement plans. Introduce a pharmacist-prescriber who will be able to tackle arising problems as soon as possible and provide high quality care in liaison with doctors, nurses and advanced care practitioners.
Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Yosr Trabelsi, Leila Achour, Ikram Fezaa, Samer Sahbi, Chema Drira
Never events are serious incidents generally linked to human and/or practical errors, which should never happen. Most of these events are avoidable, and are the subject of specific recommendations for the implementation of appropriate protective measures. According to ANSM (French drug safety agency), potassium chloride (KCl) is among the drugs frequently implicated in Never Events.
The aim of this study was to assess the prescription and administration practices of injectable KCL in our hospital.
We carried out a 1-month prospective audit between 1 and 30 September 2024. All the prescriptions of injectable KCL were collected and evaluated by a pharmacist using a data collection form. It was divided into 2 sections: preparation and administration. The reference guideline used for this study was the 2022 ANSM recommendations. The results were analyzed using excel.
Fifty-five prescriptions were included. The compliance percentage for prescriptions and administration practices was 31.4% and 30.5 %, respectively. Calculation of total intake was compliant and the total volume of diluent was mentioned in all the prescriptions. In 62% of the prescription, the correct specific units were used and in 38.2 % of cases the correct slow infusion rate was prescribed. Nevertheless, the use of the route was inappropriate since only the IV route was prescribed due to the shortage of oral KCl. For administration, final concentration (≤4g/L) of the KCL infusion was respected in 90.9% of cases and all the preparations were labeled.
The study revealed several non-conformities, leading to the development of an improvement report. Therefore, we decided to implement a training plan about injectable KCl use to ensure patient safety.
